City of Laredo announces hiring of first full-time veterinarian

Published 9:44 pm, Saturday, August 12, 2017

Photo: Cuate Santos/Laredo Morning Times

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A press conference was held at City Council Chambers where Dr. Rebecca A. Rodriguez, D.V.M., at podium, was announced as the staff veterinarian for the City of Laredo at the Animal Care Services Department and the City's animal shelter facility.

A press conference was held at City Council Chambers where Dr. Rebecca A. Rodriguez, D.V.M., at podium, was announced as the staff veterinarian for the City of Laredo at the Animal Care Services Department and

A press conference was held at City Council Chambers where Dr. Rebecca A. Rodriguez, D.V.M., was announced as the staff veterinarian for the City of Laredo at the Animal Care Services Department and the City's animal shelter facility.

A press conference was held at City Council Chambers where Dr. Rebecca A. Rodriguez, D.V.M., was announced as the staff veterinarian for the City of Laredo at the Animal Care Services Department and the City's

District IV Councilman Alberto Torres Jr., poses with one of the pets up for adoption at the Laredo Animal Shelter at City Council Chambers where a press conference was held to announce the hiring of Dr. Rebecca A. Rodriguez, D.V.M., as the staff veterinarian for the City of Laredo at the Animal Care Services Department and the City's animal shelter facility.

District IV Councilman Alberto Torres Jr., poses with one of the pets up for adoption at the Laredo Animal Shelter at City Council Chambers where a press conference was held to announce the hiring of Dr.

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The City of Laredo announced Friday that it has hired its first staff veterinarian to work full-time for the city shelter and the Laredo community.

Dr. Rebecca Rodriguez said her first goal is to educate the community about pet ownership and care. For instance, everyone should keep a medical history for their pets, she said. Rodriguez also wants to get the community more involved in microchipping animals.

Her primary duties include spaying and neutering pets at Animal Care Services and at special events, administering vaccinations, diagnosing animals' conditions, overseeing the general welfare of shelter animals and performing euthanasia, the city said in a news release. Her first day is Monday.

Councilman Alex Perez said he has been waiting for this day for five or six years. The city had never hired a staff veterinarian because of political or budgetary reasons, he said. Perez's biggest concern is overpopulation; the city has the euthanize about 400 pets every month, he said.

When the city began meeting with animal care advocates in 2015, one of their goals was to create the position for a staff veterinarian, Deputy City Manager Cynthia Collazo said.

Animal Care Services Director Homero Vazquez-Garcia said the city shelter had a contract with veterinarian Dr. Sandra Leyendecker to work on-call. Now Rodriguez will care for cats, dogs and livestock at the shelter, as well as the pets of the community at large. Although it is not the city's intent to become a commercial animal care provider, Councilman Alberto Torres said.